Insulator and support for electrically charged fence wires

ABSTRACT

A reusable insulator and support for attaching electrically charged fence wire to fence posts or rods comprises a flexible, strip-form member composed of a dielectric material. The support member has a portion deflectable into a configuration for encircling the fence wire and is attachable to the fence post in a manner to support the fence wire on the post.

United States Patent 11 1 [111 3,785,619 Oltmanns Jan. 15 1974 [54] INSULATOR AND SUPPORT FOR 293,009 2/1884 Griffith 256/48 ELECTRICALLY CHARGED FENCE WIRES 347,751 8/1886 Upton 256/48 3,169,004 2/1965 Rapata 248/71 [76] Inventor: George F. OItmanns, 2528 3,521,401 7/1970 Shisler 248/71 x Pensacola Ave., Chicago, Ill. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Had: May 1972 969,813 12/1950 France 256/10 [2]] Appl. No.: 255,037

Related Application Data Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor [62] Division ofSer. N0. 118,406, Feb. 24, 1971, Pat. NO. Sherman Memm Gross & slmpso [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 256/10, 256/48, 174/158 F 51 1111. C1 E04h 17/24 A reusable Insulator and Support for attachmg [58] Field of Search 256/10, 47, 48; Cally charged fence Wire to fence Posts of rods 174/15 R 15 F 160 1 F 1 3 F 1 4; prises a flexible, strip-form member composed Of a di- 248/71 66 electric material. The support memberhas a portion deflectable into a configuration for encircling the [56] References Cited fence wire and is attachable to the fence post in 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS manner to support the fence wire on the post.

2,718,545 9/1955 Thurman 174/164 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 INSULATOR AND SUPPORT FOR ELECTRICALLY CIIARGED'FENCE WIRES This is a division of application Ser. No. 1 18,406 filed Feb. 24, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,247.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a support and insulator device for fence wire, and more particularly to a reusable, flexible, strip-form member for supporting electrically charged fence wire on a fence post in a spaced, electrically insulated relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Electrified fences are oftentimes utilized for temporary fence enclosures, and thus, the present invention provides a reusable insulator and support for quickly attaching electrically conductive fence wire to fence posts of any one of the common configurations, such as wooden posts, T-posts, small diametered rods and the like.

The insulator and support of the present invention generally comprises a flexible, strip-form member having a portion deflectable into a configuration for encircling and supporting an adjoining fence wire and another portion attachable to the fence post in a manner to maintain the wire-supporting portion in its deflected condition.

It is contemplatedby the present invention to provide forms of insulating flexible support members which are particularly adapted to be nailed to a wooden fence post or attached by wire to other forms of fence posts, such as the T-shaped fence post. One of these alternative embodiments generally comprises a flexible portion configured to be deflected into a wire-encircling configuration and is characterized by apertures formed in the deflected portion and a body portion appropriately disposed thereon to be in alignment when the deflected portion is folded or deflected into the supporting configuration. Thus, attachment means, such as nails or wire, are passed through the aligned apertures and attachedto the fence post, thereby maintaining the flexible support member in its deflected, wiresupporting position and attaching the support member to the fencepost for supporting the fence wire thereon in a spaced, electrically insulated relationship. The insulator of the present invention may be supplied in reel form and cut to the requiredlength as used.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reusable, flexible, strip-form member configured and arranged to be deflected into a wiresupporting configuration and attached to an adjoining fence post in a manner to retain the support member in the deflected position for supporting an electrically conductive fence wire in an insulated relationship on the fence post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention and illustrates a support and insulator embodying the features of the pres ent invention and attached to a wooden fence post; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank utilized to form the insulator device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN- PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Referring to the drawings, a device. of the present invention for insulating and supporting an electrically conductive fence wire 11 on a fence-post 37'.

The present invention contemplates providing a flexible, strip-form support member 31 composed of a flexible, dielectric material and. having a constant width. The insulating. and supporting member 31. comprises a. flexible portion 32 deflected into a wire-encircling loop 33, when assembled. Formed at either end portion of the deflected, loop forming portion 32 of the member 31 is a series of transversely spaced apertures, including the apertures 34 at one end and the apertures 36 at the other end. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the series of transversely spaced apertures 34 or 36 has three apertures which are in longitudinal alignment with three apertures of the opposite series of apertures. Thus, when the deflected portion 32 is folded about a substantially transversely extending axis the first series of apertures 32 will be in alignment with the second series of apertures 36.

Attachment means for attaching the insulating and supporting member 31 to a wooden post 37, as shown in FIG. 3, may include one or more nails as at 38 passing through aligned ones of the apertures 34 and 36 and engaged into the wooden post 37, thereby to attach the member 31 to the post for supporting the adjoining fence wire 11 on the post in a spaced and electrically insulated relationship. Also, if desired, a wire may be threaded through aligned ones of the apertures 34 and 36 and wrapped around a fence post in a manner to attach the support 31 to the post.

It is also contemplated by the present invention to form the support member 31 with a portion configured to form a rain cap for diverting rain. water running down the fence post 37 away from the wire-supporting loop 33. Accordingly, the member 31 includes another flexible portion 39 formed as an extension of the portion 32 and folded to overlap the terminal end portion 41, which has the apertures 34 formed therein. To re tain the rain cap 39 in the folded configuration, a third series of apertures 42 are formed in an end of the strip opposite the end containing the apertures 34 and the third series of apertures are in longitudinal alignment with the apertures 34 and 36 and disposed to be aligned therewith when assembled. Accordingly, the attachment means, such as the nail 34 will pass through aligned ones of the apertures 42, 36 and 34, thereby to maintain the member 31 in its assembled relationship when attached to the fence post 37.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, if desired, the support member 31 may also include a pair of apertures 40, 40 disposed on longitudinally opposite sides of a center of the deflected portion 32. The apertures 40 permit drainage of water from the wire encircling loop 33 and may receive a wire 45 for securing the fence wire 11 to the support device.

From the foregoing description, it should be noted that the present invention contemplates providing a flexible, strip-form device for supporting an electrically charged fence wire on an adjoining fence post in a spaced and electrically insulated relationship providing an insulating supporting member comprising a flexible portion which is deflected into a wire-encircling loop and retained in that configuration by attachment of the support member to the associated fence post.

Although those versed in the art may suggest various minor modifications, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an insulator and support device'for supporting an electrically charged fence wire from a fence post in a spaced and electrically insulated relationship with respect to the post,

a flexible strip-form member made from a dielectric material in the form of a flat strip prior to attachment to the post and having at least one attachment apertured portion at one end thereof and at least one attachment apertured portion intermediate the ends thereof,

said strip being foldable to register said apertured portions and form an elongated loop depending therefrom forming a support for an electrically charged fence wire and said strip having at least one apertured portion at the opposite end from said first-mentioned apertured portions registrable with said first-mentioned apertured portions and adapted to be attached to the fence post by the passing of a securing device through said registered apertured portions, retaining said strip to form a relatively large elongated loop portion extending downwardly of said securing device and to form a loop form protective cap for said insulator and support device extending upwardly of said securing device.

2. The insulated support device of claim 1, wherein said strip has a pair of aligned longitudinally spaced apertured portions between said first-mentioned apertured portions and positioned at the bottom of the elongated loop upon deformation of said strip to a loop-like form, and attachment means adapted to be extended through said longitudinally spaced apertured portions and attach a charged fence wire thereto, said apertured portions also forming drainage apertures accommodating the draining of water from the bottom of said elongated supporting loop. 

1. In an insulator and support device for supporting an electrically charged fence wire from a fence post in a spaced and electrically insulated relationship with respect to the post, a flexible strip-form member made from a dielectric mAterial in the form of a flat strip prior to attachment to the post and having at least one attachment apertured portion at one end thereof and at least one attachment apertured portion intermediate the ends thereof, said strip being foldable to register said apertured portions and form an elongated loop depending therefrom forming a support for an electrically charged fence wire and said strip having at least one apertured portion at the opposite end from said first-mentioned apertured portions registrable with said first-mentioned apertured portions and adapted to be attached to the fence post by the passing of a securing device through said registered apertured portions, retaining said strip to form a relatively large elongated loop portion extending downwardly of said securing device and to form a loop form protective cap for said insulator and support device extending upwardly of said securing device.
 2. The insulated support device of claim 1, wherein said strip has a pair of aligned longitudinally spaced apertured portions between said first-mentioned apertured portions and positioned at the bottom of the elongated loop upon deformation of said strip to a loop-like form, and attachment means adapted to be extended through said longitudinally spaced apertured portions and attach a charged fence wire thereto, said apertured portions also forming drainage apertures accommodating the draining of water from the bottom of said elongated supporting loop. 